Houston Illegal Alien Smuggling Lawyers

To live in the United States legally, a person must file the proper papers and go through the process of either naturalizing and becoming a citizen or entering into the country under a work permit. However, these processes can create particularly long waiting periods for immigrants, leading some to enter the country illegally. In the addition to the efforts of individual immigrants, some people smuggle groups or individuals to facilitate border crossing.

Penalties for Illegal Alien Smuggling

It is a federal crime to help an alien enter into the country without going through the proper immigration channels. Without the right documents and permissions, both the smuggled individual and the smuggler can face serious penalties. For the smuggler, these can include the following:

Up to 10 years in prison

Costly fines

A felony record

These penalties are applied solely to the charge of smuggling itself. Other charges are often attached to this crime, including harboring an illegal alien and conspiracy to commit a federal crime. These may include addition prison sentences and increase the overall fines associated with a conviction. If an illegal alien suffers harm as a result of the smuggling, the smuggler may be held accountable as well.

Contact Us

If you have been charged with assisting an illegal immigrant across the border, you should turn to a lawyer with legal experience in and out of the courtroom. To discuss your defense options, contact the Houston illegal alien smuggling attorneys of Johnson, Johnson & Baer, P.C., at 713-523-0404 today.